Setting the Record Straight About Vaginal Contraceptive Film

Question: I am so suprised that nobody is talking or having any comments about VCF which I used all the time. My partner and I are totally confident in that product. Could you touch a word on it?
-Manuel, St Paul,MN

Vaginal contraceptive film (VCF) is a soluble film -- a super thin, wafer-like substance filled with spermicide, usually nonoxynol-9 -- that's inserted into the vagina before intercourse and then "melts," delivering spermicide (chemicals that kill sperm) into the vaginal barrel as a form of contraception. Nonoxynol-9 is also available in jelly, cream, foam, suppository, and tablet forms, and is coated on some lubed condoms; however, these condoms have been found to offer no more protection against pregnancy than those without spermicidal lube.

VCF, when used alone, is far less effective against pregnancy than a condom, which, when used consistently and correctly,[The Condom} offers a 97 percent protection rate. VCF seems to be most effective when used as a back up with another form of birth control. As far as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are concerned, although VCF may reduce the risk of getting a bacterial STD, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, by about 25 percent, it does not protect against them. The only form of birth control effective for STD prevention is a condom.

The following ideas can help increase the contraceptive effectiveness of VCF:

* Using dry, clean fingers, insert one VCF sheet into your vagina, making sure it's placed on or near your cervix.
* Wait at least fifteen minutes after insertion to allow the VCF to dissolve in the vagina before having intercourse.
* Use a new VCF for each sex session as a single application is good for up to only one hour after initial insertion.